The FastFWD challenge is a competition in which entrepreneurs find innovative solutions to crime.Scott Olson/Getty Images

Several U.S. cities are using contests to discover answers to some of their biggest problems.

Most of us have probably heard the old adage about how competition always brings out the worst in people. While it can cause tension to run high, competition can also be a great way to push people towards a new level of creativity.

And that’s why some cities are harnessing that positive attribute of competition and using government-sponsored contests to bring social good to their communities.

For the past 10 years, Philadelphia has hovered between being the fourth and seventh most dangerous big city in the U.S., according to Governing. This year, after clocking in at number five, the city realized that something needed to change.

So the City of Brotherly Love launched the $100,000 FastFWD challenge – a competition in which entrepreneurs find innovative solutions to crime. The winners received $10,000 each and the opportunity to run a pilot program of their idea. The competition also encouraged the winning programs to collaborate with each other through complementary skill sets. Additionally, it united problems with problem-solvers and was a cost-effective alternative to the usual government procurement process, reports Governing.

With all of the benefits, Philadelphia isn’t the only city hosting competitions.

Last year, New York City rain BigApps – a competition to create innovative apps that would make every New Yorker’s life a little easier. Among the winners: apps that find healthy food at nearby restaurants, locate good child care, calculate savings of installing different home solar-power options and teach software coding to kids.

While it may seem like a daunting task to launch these competitions, it’s actually quite simple. For the past five years, hundreds of these competitions have been held. By following these three principles, according to Governing, you can avoid the early struggles.

1. Identify the problem you want to solve before you create the prize, which should reflect your goals.